03/08/2025
Having plumbing troubles? Call a professional. Call Quality Air Mechanical Inc. for all your plumbing needs: (570) 322-6500
** IMPORTANT PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT **
So, I've been a little under the weather of late, and I was so looking forward to the end of the work week. I called my wife around 1830 last night, to let her know I'd be heading home.
"Uhh...Joe. I think it might be best for you to spend the night there, in the office..."
I cut her off right there, for I know my wife well, and I knew it would be a while before she would get to WHY I wasn't to come home. I asked her, frantically, what I always ask her under these circumstances:
"KRISTEN!! Is the house on FIRE!"
There was a silence. "No...not yet."
I was gathering my things and rushing into my car at that point, picturing a raging inferno..."That's not a great answer, dear! I'm heading out right now. What's going on?"
"Well, as you know, my brother is here [he's been doing some painting for us upstairs], and you know how the master bath toilet gets clogged up sometimes. So, it is, and I asked him if he could help unclog it."
That seemed benign enough. I pictured a plunger, and started to relax a little, still driving.
"But, the plunger didn't work 'cause it's REALLY clogged up, so he put some liquid Drano down."
That seemed a little worse, and I stepped on the gas a bit.
"But that didn't work, either. So, he called my sister, who is prone to the same toilet-clogging problem we have [I wanted to interject that this was not a "we" problem, but I didn't want her distracted], and she said that she has the best stuff ever..."LIQUID FIRE"...so he went over to get a bottle of it."
I was speeding now. I'm no plumber, no chemist, but I was not reassured by the name of the new product, and I recalled how the Drano had already been attempted.
"Please talk faster, Kate. The anticipation is killing me! First of all, is anyone dead?"
"No...not yet." I wish she wouldn't keep saying that.
"So, there must have been some sort of chemical reaction or something, 'cause the toilet water started bubbling over like a witch's brew, and my brother started gagging and coughing. Of course, the toilet won't flush, and the windows in the bathroom won't open [they're painted shut; we've just never got around to doing anything about that]. So, we've got fans blowing and the sliding doors in the living room open, and we called Quality Air, but they haven't called back yet."
I was processing things as quickly as possible, with my already drained brain.
"OK, dear, I'm almost there. A couple of things: DO NOT turn our fireplace on, and get outside. You're like the canary in the coal mine [Kate weighs 100 pounds on a good day]; you'd be the first to kick from whatever toxic fumes you're breathing in. I'm getting you out of there."
As I turned the bend in our road, and laid eyes on our beautiful home, I thanked God it was not engulfed in flames. I pulled up and raced inside, actually smelling a very chemically odor even BEFORE I got into the house; it was caustic, and made my lips burn.
"OK, Kate, get in the car while I..." I was racing onto the living room to get some necessities for her. That's where the fireplace is...beautifully ROARING with a propane fire. "WHY is the fireplace on! Didn't I just..."
"Oh, I did that, Doc. With the doors open, it was getting cold in here, and I wanted sis to be warm." Her brother is a great guy and brother, who I really like, but I like my home even more, so I quickly extinguished the flames, thanking God for His amazing protection.
Anyway, Kate and I were out of there, leaving poor Jason, who was gagging and coughing and short of breath, to wait for the Quality Air heroes..."Listen, J. The hospital is just a few blocks away, if necessary. We'll be praying for you."
And off we went, back to the office, where I quickly googled if Liquid Fire could be mixed with Drano. I'll save the exact answer, as it appeared on my screen, at the end. But, I don't want anyone worried. The brave Quality Air men got the toilet unplugged, inhaling toxic fumes all along the way. One of them got physically ill, but I believe is expected to survive. Jason, amazingly, who took the brunt of the inhalation injuries, is also soldiering through, and still on the survivor list. No loss of life or property to this point.
My goal is to save the world from such an experience going forward, for here is the Google answer to my question:
"NEVER mix "Liquid Fire" drain cleaner with Drano or any other chemical, as this can cause a dangerous chemical reaction, potentially leading to explosions, burns, or the release of toxic fumes."
Lesson learned!
